BYU football: 10 players primed for breakout seasons

Most BYU fans expect players like Kyle Van Noy, Cody Hoffman, Jamaal Williams and Eathyn Manumaleuna to play major roles in 2013, but who else will step up? Here are 10 players already in the program set for breakout campaigns in 2013 based on respective practice observations, comments from coaches and respective position need.

None of the following are sure bets for breakout seasons, but could provide big contributions should they continue on course.

It's hard to argue with this list. The team is loaded at most positions.
The only three question marks are O line, kicking game and QB. I believe this
will be the best QB play we've seen since Max, and Sorensen has the
potential to have a breakout season if he can get / stay healthy. This has to
be the (cumulative) most talented four running backs we've ever had.

The Cougars are loaded in many key positions, and are primed with a great
schedule to have a breakout year, if the Cougs can win the big games on their
schedule and avoid the upset in the other games, this could be a very, very
special season. I cannot wait for the start of the season. Go Cougs!

I have been looking forward to this season. I hope that BYU can really show that
with the honor rules restrictions, we can still find talent. Still expect some
losses, but we have the potential for a great season. Just hoping they can live
up to that potential. The offense will be the key because I think the defense
will be as good or even better than last year. All we had to do was score a
field goal or one extra touchdown last year in a few games and the outcome would
have been completely different but the offense disappointed.

"The offense disappointed" is an understatement. I sure hope more than
10 players have a breakout season. Every player counts on both sides of the
line. BYU will need every position to be played by eager, hungry winners if
they are to win the 'big' games. Injuries cause demise of potential.
They need excellent conditioning, great heart, a strong work ethic, and
here's a good one; good coaching. I was anxious to see Anae dismissed
before, when he showed no creativity, obvious predictability, and little skill
as offensive coach. I wanted Doman to succeed, but he had less than Anae to
bring to the table. Every offensive play was predicted by the way the team
lined up (Anae's old style). And the number of QB draws cause bald-making
hair pulling in my arm chair. And BYU's solution is to bring back the king
of the 4-pay offensive playbook. I truly wish Robert Anae the very best on his
return, but I have to hope he has a few more plays in his 2013 playbook.GO
COUGARS! Bring it to the field.

As I read the article I was struck by he number of linebackers. Three of the
10. I wondered how could there be that many on the field when Van Noy and
Hadley are expected to be starters. Then I read the possibility of a 2-5-4
defense. Has anyone ever heard of that line-up? As an offensive coach, if I
had any running game, I would love to see what I could do against that defense!
Excited to see how it works!

Too many if's in the equation. New quarterback, new offensive line,
inexperience on defensive line, one new cornerback. I hope they do well but I
see some real question marks with the schedule and the inexperience in key
places.Go Coogs.

Yes, byu piled up nice stats against such powerhouses as
Idaho, Hawaii, Weber State, San Jose State, and New Mexico State, 5 guaranteed
wins (whoops, forgot about San Jose State). But when it really counted, your
team fell short (Boise State, Utah, Notre Dame, Oregon State). So hold off on
all of those pre-season defensive awards for now.

BYU will be
bowl eligible, but not with a great season. Tough schedule. I'm not too
confident in Anae's ability to turn the offense around and I'm
scratching my head trying to figure out why they brought him back.

The Utes will not be bowl-eligible; they're not a match to their upcoming
schedule, but don't expect them to be in the cellar for too many years.

As for the BYU-Utah game, the game will be the same as it always is -
emotional and unpredictable.

Best wishes to all in-state college
teams, but my support goes to BYU!

BYU's defense did well against a pretty
wide variety of opponents last year, it was the offense that was the problem. I
believe Georgia tech was one of the best rushing offense in the country and BYU
shut them down. BYU also shut down boise's running game, utah's
running game and just about every other running game they faced last year other
than notre dame's.

But why the snarky comment? who am i asked
the following question "Has anyone ever heard of that line-up?" I just
answered him that yes we have because BYU used it at times last season and had
good results with it. It had nothing to do with anything other than that.
Aren't you one of the bigger whiners around here about the sorts of
exchanges you just tried to provoke? So when an actual civil exchange occurs
between a BYU and utah fan why would you be the guy you are always whining about
other people being? I didn't take who am i's comment as any sort of
shot against BYU and my answer was not a shot toward him or utah.

I gave you no "snarky comment",
although, from your own "snarky comments that you aim toward our Utah fan
base (ute "fans", as you call us), I'm not quite sure why anything
I post would bother you.

As far as you calling me whiny, where was
there anything in my post to suggest that? I merely said that pumping up your
team as being a defensive powerhouse was premature and definitely
unsubstantiated, based on last year's byu team, and how byu fell short
based on their lack of success against every good football team that they
played.